Monday, October 22, 2012

Oct 22 12 - Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
October 25, 2012


A New Survey By Kayak Reveals the Best Time to Book Flights

Looking to save the most money on your next plane ticket? A new survey by flight search engine Kayak.com says the lowest domestic flights can be found 21 days before your date of departure—make that 34 days before your departure date for international flights. Domestic airfares found within two weeks of departure increased by five percent, and were 30 percent higher one week before the departure date. The international airfares found 34 days prior to departure were four percent lower than flights booked six months earlier than the departure date.

The new findings come from compiling and analyzing one year's worth of search results data from an average of 100 million flight searches per month. Here's something counterintuitive; The results suggest that you should NOT book domestic flights too early, as those reserved six months before the departure date were 19 percent higher, and flights found five months ahead were 18 percent higher than flights booked 21 days before departure.

Which days of the week you fly also make a difference. When booking domestic flights that are up to one week long, Kayak found that the lowest-priced fares depart on Saturday and return on Wednesday, while flights longer than one week that depart on Tuesday and return on the following Wednesday have the lowest-priced fares. For international flights up to one week long, Kayak recommends departing on Tuesday and returning on the following Wednesday, or departing on either Friday or Saturday and returning the following Monday—for trips longer than one week, try departing on Saturday and returning the following Sunday, or aim for the second-cheapest set of airfares by returning on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.


Thought for the Month
Enjoy today because tomorrow is not promised to you.

Wishing you a great weekend

Mary Engram, CTA/MCC

Your Personal Travel Consultant

 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Oct 19, 2012 - Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
October 19, 2012

Good Friday Morning


Celebrity Cruises West Coast Sailings
4 nights, Apr 18 – 22, 2013
Round-trip San Diego to Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, and Ensenada

Inside Stateroom from $349*
Oceanview Stateroom from $398*
Veranda Stateroom from $497*
Concierge Class Veranda from $546*

Book by Nov 15, 2012 for $50 onboard credit* ($75 for Captain's Club members)

5 nights, Apr 22 – 27, 2013
Round-trip San Diego to Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Ensenada

Inside Stateroom from $399*
Oceanview Stateroom from $448*
Veranda Stateroom from $547*
Concierge Class Veranda from $596*

 Book by Nov 15, 2012 for $50 onboard credit* ($75 for Captain's Club members)

5 nights, Apr 27 – May 5, 2013
San Diego to Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco (overnight), Astoria, Victoria, Vancouver

Oceanview Stateroom from $749*
Verandah Stateroom from $1.099*
Concierge Class Veranda Stateroom from $1,198*

Book by Nov 15, 2012 for $50 onboard credit* ($75 for Captain's Club members)

*Offers expire November 15, 2012. All fares are per person in U.S.D., based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Onboard credit is per stateroom. Airfare and related fees and cruise taxes & fees are additional. Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $10 per guest per day on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel exceeds $65 per barrel. Ships’ Registry: Malta. Worldview Travel strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance. We reserve the right to correct errors or omissions.  CST 1008676-10

Celebrate the Season with Disney Cruise Line
Celebrate the magic of the holiday season November 2012 through early January 2013 onboard the Disney Cruise Line® ships and at Disney's Castaway Cay.

The festive events and activities onboard include:
• A tree-lighting ceremony in the atrium lobby, where "snow" magically falls
• Character "meet and greets" in appropriate holiday attire
• International holiday caroling by Crew members from around the world
• Special family time - families get together to design and decorate their own gingerbread houses.
• Classic holiday story time

The festive events and activities at Disney's Castaway Cay include:
• Castaway Cay transformed into a Magical Wonderland with “snow” flurries, a Christmas Tree, Mr. and Mrs. Snowman (with shell noses and tropical shirts)
• Carolers
• The island's tram decorated to resemble a reindeer, complete with antlers and tail


 Royal Caribbean expands dining-room menu, food options
Royal Caribbean International is revamping the menu offered in its main dining cabins to include fresh ingredients, international flavors, and gluten- and lactose-free options.

Breakaway Inaugural sailings
This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be one of the first to cruise aboard Norwegian Breakaway on her May 12, 2013 inaugural sailing to Bermuda.  Norwegian Breakaway is the newest, largest and most luxurious ship to sail from New York year round.  You will  enjoy:
 

The legendary Rockettes® are godmothers to Norwegian Breakaway and two will be on board the inaugural sailing and the first sailing every month to take part in fitness classes, photo opportunities, meet and greets and more
Restaurants by Iron Chef, Geoffrey Zakarian
The most Broadway shows at sea, including Rock of Ages, Burn the Floor and Cirque Dreams and Dinner Jungle Fantasy
An amazing Aqua Park with multi-story waterslides
A Sports Complex with the largest ropes course at sea
The Waterfront — an open-air promenade of dining, shopping and nightlife
678 Ocean Place — a first-of-its-kind entertainment destination at sea
The unprecedented freedom and flexibility of Freestyle Cruising®

Norwegian Breakaway's inaugural sailing is filling up fast, so call me to book.


Thought for the Month
Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward. --Victor Kiam, American businessman


Wishing you a great weekend

Mary Engram, CTA/MCC

Your Personal Travel Consultant

 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Oct 12 2012 - Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
October 12, 2012

Good Friday Morning

Royal Caribbean WOW Sale – Oct 15-17, 2012
UP TO $200* TO SPEND ONBOARD + 50% REDUCED DEPOSIT
Go where the sea can take you, which is just about everywhere. Between October 15 - 17 and call me to reserve any cruise departing January 1, 2013, or later to enjoy up to $200* to spend onboard plus a 50% reduced deposit

LIMITED-TIME OFFER DETAILS:
Cruise Length             Onboard Credit           Reduced Deposit
3 to 5 nights                $50 per stateroom                    $50
6 to 9 nights                $100 per stateroom                  $125
10 + nights                  $200 per stateroom                  $225
                                                                                                                      

* The 50% reduced deposit can also be applied via any automated booking tool (Cruisematch®, Sabre, Amadeus, Galileo or Wordspan). However, the booking confirmation will not reflect the reduced deposit amount due. The WOW Sale Onboard Credit and 50% Reduced Deposit offer are applicable to all Royal Caribbean International® cruises that sail on or after January 1, 2013 including cruisetours. Offer applies to new FIT bookings with required deposit only and is not applicable to groups. Offer applies to all categories available. All bookings must be made and the required deposit must be paid by October 17, 2012, by 11:59 pm Local Time to qualify for the promotion. Bookings made on October 15, 16, or 17, 2012 without required deposit will not qualify for this offer. Offer is combinable with LAF and restricted rates (Seniors, Residents, Military). Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Interline, Travel Agent, and Net Rates, Crown & Anchor Discounts, Shareholder Benefits or Next Cruise offers, promotions, or benefits. Offer is valid for Cruisetour packages but not combinable with other Cruisetours Onboard Credits. Cruisetour packages receive the OBC based upon the length of the Cruisetour. Onboard credit is in U.S. dollars, has no cash value, is not redeemable for cash, is not transferable and will expire if not used by 10:00 pm on the last evening of the cruise. In the event that a guest has more than one applicable offer for the same sailing, guest can choose the offer he or she wishes to apply. Offer is available in the United States and Canada. Any existing booking that is cancelled between October 8 and 17, 2012 and is rebooked for the same sailing on October 15, 16, or 17, 2012 will not be eligible to receive the offer. Any eligible reservation that is cancelled and is reinstated or changes the ship or sail date after October 17, 2012 will not be eligible to receive the offer. Onboard Credit will be applied to qualified booking by Royal Caribbean International® within 4 weeks of the Sale. The 50% reduced deposit and onboard credit offer is applicable to on-line bookings; however, the on-line booking confirmation will not reflect this reduced deposit or onboard credit. Subject to availability. Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy and in US dollars. Certain restrictions may apply. Government taxes and fees are additional. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.

Royal Caribbean Sale
From October 21 - 28, 2012, book any 7-night or longer 2013 Europe or Transatlantic sailing and receive up to $100 to spend onboard!*
 

 

Stateroom Category                              Onboard Credit
Inside Or Outside Stateroom                 $50 Per Stateroom
Balcony Or Suite Stateroom                  $100 Per Stateroom

Princess Cruises 3 & 4 Day West Coast Getaways
That’s right, starting September 2013, Princess will offer 3 &4 day sailings from Los Angeles.  If you would like to sail with my group, please let me know so we can secure your cabin.

3-Day (Los Angeles, Ensenada, day at sea, Los Angeles)
October 4, 7, 18, 21 - 2013
November 1, 4, 15, 18, 21, 24 - 2013
December 1 - 2013
January 13 - 2014

4-Day ( Los Angeles, Catalina or Santa Barbara or San Diego, Ensenada, at sea, LA)
September 26 & 30 - 2013
October 10, 14, 24, 28 - 2013
November 7, 11, 27 - 2013
January 16 - 2014


Spirit Airlines will begin charging $100 for carry-on bags in November
If they belong to the club you will pay $25 for a carry-on. Others will be charged $35 online, $40 over the phone, $50 at the airport ticket counter and $100 if they get all the way to the gate before declaring their carry-on.

Norwegian Cruise Line scraps Egypt calls
Norwegian Cruise Line will drop scheduled port calls in Egypt on its 10- and 11-day cruises from Nov. 21 to April 17.   Norwegian Jade’s 10-day cruise will now call in Istanbul and Naples, and the 11-day cruise will call in Crete and Naples.

Azamara Club Cruises West Coast Voyages
12 night sea of cortez/copper canyon – Jan 29 – Feb 10, 2014

Mazatlan, Mexico - La Paz, Mexico - Topolobampo, Mexico - Guaymas, Mexico - Loreto, Mexico - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Los Angeles

8 Night Coastal California – Feb 10-18, 2014
Santa Barbara - Monterey - San Francisco - Ensenada, Mexico - Los Angeles

14 Night rout of the america – Feb 18 – Mar 4, 2014
Los Angeles - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Manzanillo. Mexico - Ixtapa (Zihuatanejo), Mexico - Huatulco, Mexico - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala - Acajutla, El Salvador - San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua - Caldera, Costa Rica

Thought for the Month
"How strange that nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!"- Emily Dickinson
 

Wishing you a great weekend

 

Mary Engram, CTA/MCC

Your Personal Travel Consultant

 

Friday, October 5, 2012

Oct 5 2012 - Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
October 5, 2012

Good Friday Morning

12 Cruises to Match Your Musical Tastes
The Smooth Jazz Cruise                                 
Jan.13-20, 2013                               
Jan. 20-27, 2013                              
Oct. 12-19, 2013
Jan. 11-18, 2014
The Jazz Cruise

Jan 27 - Feb 2, 2103
Jan 25-Feb 1, 2014
Soul Train Cruise
Feb 17-24, 2013
Oct 5-12, 2013
Malt Shop Memories Cruise                           
Oct. 27 – Nov. 2, 2013                                 
Ship of Fear  
Oct 28-Nov 2, 2013
Celtic Thunder Cruise
Nov 2-7, 2013
The Country Music Cruise
Jan. 19-26, 2014

Carnival Launches Cruise Check-In at Miami Airport
Carnival is opening check-in counters at Miami International Airport so passengers can get their Sail & Sign and boarding cards before arriving at the port. The Carnival counters are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Concourses D and H on the day of sailing.

Based on flight arrival, you will check in and receive a boarding card that reads “Airport Express” along with your Sail & sign card.  If you did not pre-purchase Carnival’s transportation, you have the option to buy transfers to the pier during check-in. Your must take their your luggage with you whether using Carnival's transportation service or other means.

Carnival “Faster to the Fun”
Being tested on Carnival Imagination and Liberty, this option includes early embarkation, early stateroom availability, express luggage delivery to staterooms, priority dinner seating, and choice of early or late debarkation. The cost is $49.95 per stateroom, regardless of number of guest.

Celebrity Cruises Winter Escape Sale
Dreaming about a Luxury Vacation?  What about a Caribbean vacation with free gratuities and a savings of up to $420.  Plus, receive $200 to spend on board!   Well Celebrity Cruises is offering 99 different sailings, aboard seven stunning ships, ranging from 4- to 14-nights, where you can do just that.  But hurry.  You have to book between Oct 8 - 20, 2012.

Norwegian Getaway to Sail Eastern Caribbean from Miami in 2014
Norwegian Cruise Line said the new Norwegian Getaway will sail a seven-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary from the Port of Miami year-round. Following inaugural events in Europe, Norwegian Getaway will arrive in Miami in late Jan 2014 and begin sailing on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014.

Oceania Cruises Expands Oceania Club Passenger Loyalty Program
Oceania Cruises is enhancing its Oceania Club loyalty program by adding a new Blue membership level for guests to earn rewards on their first cruise.  Current benefits include on-board recognition and membership-level pins, exclusive cocktail receptions and member-only offers. Higher levels also include free cruises, free Canyon Ranch SpaClub treatments, and a combination of benefits that reward guests with both shipboard credits and pre-paid gratuities.

Carnival Bans Carry-on Alcohol When Carnival Spirit Sails Australia
All Carnival ships allow adults to pack a 750ml bottle of wine or Champagne in their carry-on luggage, but this will not be the case when Carnival Spirit sails in Australia. 

Carnival is also dropping it’s all-you-can-drink package.  Other cancelled services include Bon Voyage liquor, which allowed people to pre-order bottles of spirits, wine and beer to be delivered to their cabin, and Bon Voyage gifts, which is used for buying presents for other passengers.


Azamara will launch nighttime shore excursions in 2013
Azamara Club Cruises has announced new offerings on its European sailings in 2013 aboard the Azamara Quest and the Azamara Journey. The "AzAmazing Evening" program offers immersive nighttime land excursions for free, available with each cruise. The cruise line is also introducing a new line of complimentary drink selections at its onboard bars

Royal Princess pool deck to feature fountain show

The Royal Princess will feature an island area between two pools that will become the showcase for an interactive sound and light show with dancing fountains.  The fountain feature will have 85 water jets that can shoot water 33 feet into the sky.  This is in addition, to the see-through skywalk extending in a semi-circle over the ocean and a display screen for outdoor movies that is 30% larger than screens on existing ships.  Princess also said that evening entertainment will include a deck party featuring a DJ on a balcony two decks above the dance floor.

Princess Cruises 3 & 4 Day West Coast Getaways
That’s right, starting September 2013, Princess will offer 3 &4 day sailings from Los Angeles. 

3-Day (Los Angeles, Ensenada, day at sea, Los Angeles)
October 4, 7, 18, 21 - 2013
November 1, 4, 15, 18, 21, 24 - 2013
December 1 - 2013
January 13 - 2014

4-Day ( Los Angeles, Catalina or Santa Barbara or San Diego, Ensenada, day at sea, LA)
September 26 & 30 - 2013
October 10, 14, 24, 28 - 2013
November 7, 11, 27 - 2013
January 16 - 2014


Azamara Club Cruises West Coast Voyages
12 night sea of cortez/copper canyon – Jan 29 – Feb 10, 2014
Mazatlan, Mexico - La Paz, Mexico - Topolobampo, Mexico - Guaymas, Mexico - Loreto, Mexico - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Los Angeles

8 Night Coastal California – Feb 10-18, 2014
Santa Barbara - Monterey - San Francisco - Ensenada, Mexico - Los Angeles

14 Night rout of the america – Feb 18 – Mar 4, 2014
Los Angeles - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Manzanillo. Mexico - Ixtapa (Zihuatanejo), Mexico - Huatulco, Mexico - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala - Acajutla, El Salvador - San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua - Caldera, Costa Rica

Thought for the Month
Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward. --Victor Kiam, American businessman
 

Wishing you a great weekend
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC
Your Personal Travel Consultant